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- 24. January 2012: Self-Publishing Picture Books?
- 6. January 2012: CICADA is publishing my short story!
- 10. December 2011: I’m Not Proud: All the Wrong Ways to Deal with an Agent
- 27. November 2011: Why I Struggle While Reading Self-Published Work
- 7. November 2011: Hiatus on my Education
- 26. October 2011: Should You Pay to Have Your Work Critiqued?
- 17. October 2011: The New Face of Publishing?
- 4. October 2011: Revision 411
- 9. September 2011: Sentimental Writing
- 1. September 2011: Getting my Masters Degree Part 1
Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook
Author bio: Donald Maas is a literary agent. He founded the Donald Maass Literary Agency in 1980. He is past president of AAR.
Year of Publication: 2004
Still relevant?: Absolutely
Topics covered: Characterization. Conflict. How to write plots, sub-plots and plot layers. How to create an outline (worksheet included). How to up the tension in a novel. Story techniques, such as setting, the character’s inner changes, reversals and surprises.
What you will learn in this book: how to make your writing stronger and deepen your plot and its many layers. After going through the writing exercises, you will be a changed writer. For the better. Perfect for genre fiction.
What you will not learn: How to gain a platform. Marketing strategies. How to write in literary form. You won’t learn about symbolism or “gorgeous” writing.
Who this book is for: Someone who has come as far as they can learning the writing craft on their own. It’s like having a mentor, but one who doesn’t stop over and drink your coffee.
Personal review: This book covers almost everything there is to know about commercial/genre fiction. It needs to be read every time you feel a case of writer’s block coming on.